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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2559
Loc: New Hampshire
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As I sit here with my AP130EDT f/8, I seem to have few times to use it due to weather and family. That plus I can't afford a good mount without selling off other stuff. Thus I ponder moving down the ladder .... a 4" apo again.
I actually have a TEC140 on order as well.
Anyway, some of the fire has left for me and maybe I don't need that much. Something for quick glimpses, yet quality views with little fuss.
I'm thinking a TV102. I went this way before and went back up to larger apos. Still, I rarely have time to use them. I used to be a serious viewer but, things change. Anyway, anyone do the same?
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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Jared
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/11/05
Posts: 1875
Loc: Piedmont, California, U.S.
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While I have never made the particular switch you are contemplating, I have, in fact, moved up and down in aperture/weight as my dedication to the hobby has waxed and waned. That is inevitable with changing family and work commitments.
While I can't imagine anyone voluntarily parting with an AP130EDT  , I certainly believe that the best scope is the one you will use the most.
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- Jared Willson
- Fluorostar FLT-110 w/ TEC optics
- Vixen VC200L
- Astro-Physics Mach1 GTO
- Stellarvue SV80S
- Takahashi Teegul SP Mount
- STL-11000
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actionhac
sage
Reged: 08/09/08
Posts: 211
Loc: WA
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I Too have down sized. My latest jump is from 10" GEM Newt to 80mmx1200mm GEM Refractor.
I feel more comfortable standing with one hand in my pocket, the other on the focuser.
The refractor seems less fussy, and at f15 focus is easy, it likes all my Ep's even the cheap ones.
I don't seem as much of a technical astronomer anymore. Right now I just want to star hop and look at the moon.
Robert
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1609
Loc: Cayce, SC
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My first real scope was an Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, f8 Newtonian, back in the early 60s. It's been the only worthwhile scope of my life until this past January when I inherited a Celestron Celestar 8 f10 SCT on a wedgepod. While easier to carry around and use than the RV-6, it still weighs nearly 40 lbs. assembled. That's really not bad at all, but it's been just enough to keep me sitting around inside on good nights too often.
Then, I discovered an ST80 refractor (actually a Celestron Wide View 80--same as the Orion ST80). And then nabbed a used EQ-2 mount. Wow, I'm out the door every clear night, if only for a few minutes. Sure, it's not an apo, but I wish I had had this thing for the last 49 years that I've been vewing. My viewing rate has more than quadrupled in the last two-and-a half months. Plus, I have learned to love wide, low-power views. It's been like being a kid again, just discovering the wonder of the night skies. And to think that I can pick up the whole thing with one hand with an eyepiece case under my arm and open the door with my other hand is a dream come true after so many years struggling to get the old RV-6 out there, or the newly-acquired SCT. If I just HAVE to see more detail at higher powers on planets or the moon, I still have the other scopes at hand, if I'm not lazy that night.
For the price and enjoyment, everyone should have one. I'm also glad I bought the mount separately. The EQ-2 is much steadier than an EQ-1.
Clear skies to all. 
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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GeorgeDuke
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 1175
Loc: PARADISE! (So.Florida)
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I guess it is a common path. I started with 60mm refractor, then 80mm then 4" Mak then a 127mm refractor and then went to 150mm refractors! Two of them! I had outstripped my ability to handle the equipment. I sold off the OTAs and went back to an 80mm but this time an ED. Now that is gone and I have a 102mm ED. Seems like the right fit for these times.
I still have the old 60mm and my 8" SCT which never gets used these days but I can't seem to part with it.
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George
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LX200GPS 203mm f10
StellarVue SV102ED2 Feathertouch Ser#0018
Celestron 130mm f15.4 Mak
LXD75 GOTO with Orion 16" pier extension
Desert Sky DSV1 dual head ALT-AZ mount
Baader Hyperion 8mm ,13mm, 21mm and 8-24mm Zoom + FTRs
2" GSO ED barlow, Orion 2" Prism Diag. 2" WO Dielectric
Chinese Scopes, Chinese Eyepieces, Chinese Wife, Love them all!
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goober
member
Reged: 12/31/07
Posts: 25
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Quote:
Anyway, anyone do the same?
Yes! Went from 8" Starhopper (great) to a 12 GSO Dob (ugh, mistake), and downsized to a 4" F5 Apo on alt-az. Best thing I could have done. Throw it in the boot and drive it somewhere, or into the backyard for surburban stuff. No cooling, collimation, heavy lifting, huge scope sitting in the corner .... and I actually use it instead of "nah, can't be bothered lugging it out tonight".
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Doug - 4" refractor, alt-az, naglers.
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stevew
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 625
Loc: British Columbia Canada
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I used my 16 inch dob 2 times this year, My C9.25 about 6 times, My 6 inch short focus refractor, about 6 times, My 4 inch refractor about 10 times, and my C5 about 24 times.
Unless you are lucky enough to have an observatory, eventually the small scopes gather photons while the bigger scopes gather dust. Just a fact that happens when you start to get older, or have other commitments, like work, and family.
Steve
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16 inch Dobsonian
Celestron C9.25
Coulter 8 F4.5
Antares 152 F-6.5
Celestron C5
Televue Genesis SDF
Televue Pronto
Losmandy G11
TV Gibraltar
W.O. EZ Touch
Vixen Polaris
--------------------------------------------
"Mos Eisley space port, You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany"
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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2559
Loc: New Hampshire
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Yeah, I have 5 kids at home, full time job, and a wife who works rotating schedule ... night shift of course. Thus, 3-4x a week I am the only parent at home in the evenings. It's amazing how well my wife's work schedule lines up with clear nights !!
I actually have a 12x8' rolloff obs. I built a number of years back. It's been unused since trees have grown to block good views and we needed the storage space anyway.
One problem is that I don't have the night-time stamina I used to have. If I lived in nicer climes ... Ca. perhaps .. this would be different. I recall braving snow drifts and/or sub-0 weather to view the heavens. Now, too often I'm pooped at the end of the day of working and doing the home thing. This is all a major reason why I've moved away from bigger dobs and towards apos as my scope of choice.
I know I'd use a 4" apo a lot more than a 130 - 140mm apo. Still it will be hard to pull the trigger on selling the AP or cancelling the TEC.
Maybe a bit of Jameson's in my coffee will help me decide!
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5312
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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It sounds as if you want to sell the AP130EDT and buy a TEC140, plus a 4" APO. Is this correct?
A good mount IMHO is a standard Losmandy G11. Even a GM8 would likely do the job. In either case the cost isn't too bad.
If you want an alt/az mount for faster setup there are several choices.
Why not keep the AP130EDT and not buy the TEC140? Then get a good mount that is relatively quick to set up.
If you have an itch for something different get a simple 8" or 10" Dob. They are fast to set up, just two pieces. A good laser collimator and you can have the optics lined up in a couple of minutes... if they are even out enough to worry about.
Rich
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t.r.
super member
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 109
Loc: Upstate NY
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I recently came to the same decision. TEC140 or AP GT130, I chose to keep the AP for alot of reasons, size and portability at the top of the list. Simplifying life is a good thing! That little bit of weight and size does make a difference in usability. The TEC did show ever so slightly better planetary detail, but so slight that I can live with the difference and gained added flexibility with the AP GT.
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Present Stable:
Kmart 50mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason EQ-2 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
Tec140
PST
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
EQ-2,CG-4,CG-5GoTo
Had:
C80ED
ETX90RA
WO Megrez 90
TV Genesis(used 13 years,fondest of)
Nexstar5
SPC8
"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things."
—Albert Einstein
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RAKing
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 822
Loc: Clouds-ville, Virginia
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Rob,
I have also gone up and back down the aperture ladder. My reasons for this latest downsizing are physical. I really have trouble getting out of bed the next morning if I wrestle the big mount and scope out onto the deck for the evening. 
I've now opted for a Losmandy GM-8 and the TV-102 for most of my sessions. I am a DSO person and can see 90 percent of my targets with the smaller apo. I also plan to keep my 7 inch Mak for the other 10 percent, but have put my wonderful (but too heavy) C-11 SCT up for sale. It was a heart-wrenching decision.
Take care,
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
Orion XT10i / Moonlite CR2 -- The New "Time Machine"
"Hi Def" TV-102
C925-CF SCT
Ethos and Naglers
GM-8 GEM / A-P Portable Pier
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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2559
Loc: New Hampshire
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Rich:
No I would just have one scope, not the 140 plus a 4" apo. I already have a nice 8" f/6 Starsplitter/Zambuto dob, which I have posted for sale. It's nice but I find I just don't use it. I always reach for the 5" apo ... pristine apo views, no fuss, no thermals to deal with. If I were a DSO junky I'd keep the dob but, I'm not.
TR:
I would agree with your choice. My EDT weigh about the same as a TEC140. I weighed it at 18.5 lbs, with no finder, rings or star diagonal. Your 130 GT is a much more compact, lighter OTA it seems.
The TEC140 is not much heavier than the EDT. Plus, it has more aperture, awesome FT focuser, and with the sliding dewshield is more compact in storage and handling. The cost is not a lot more than what I paid for the EDT.
My original thoughts were about moving away from 5"+ apo land and running with just a 4" apo on a sweet mount. A used AP400GTO with a 4" apo would be neat!
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2559
Loc: New Hampshire
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Ron,
I know how you feel. I also have chronic back problems and a recent hip replacement ... what a hoot! Looks like you have a C925 at least for some aperture. How do you like the GM8 on the AP pier?
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 6859
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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I would look for a used FLT110 w/TEC optics. It's portable, puts up great views and is a great astrograph. It's like the TEC140's little brother.
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AP900,LXD75
AP140EDF, TSA102, ZS80EDII
SN6-OTA, C8-OTA
Canon 20D, 350Hutech
PST, Lunt LD60T/DS (on order)
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Mr. Mike
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/08/05
Posts: 858
Loc: Churchville, NY
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Weve all been there in some capacity. I have grown to prefer smaller yet easier to "live with" quality refractors over larger scopes. I dont want to mess with anything, wait for cool downs, worry about dew, etc, etc. Plus, Ive grown to really enjoy the tack-sharp, contrasty refractor views as well.
I want to grab, setup, and start viewing pretty much immediately and few scopes other than small refractors can do this. Like other have said, the scope that actually gets used is the one that collects more light! 
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Stellarvue NG 80mm ED
Meade 7x50 Binos
Pentax XW 5mm
Meade 5K UWA 8.8mm
Vixen LVW 13mm
Vixen LVW 22mm
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Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 10349
Loc: Oort Cloud
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I've been moving the same direction... (downwards).
Bigger gear is really nice, but the older I get, the less I want to haul it outside and set it up.
Still want driven equatorial tracking, but a light and short enough OTA to keep on the mounting and take outside as a complete system. The ED120 f/7.5 is light and seemed to be ideal. Very fine optics. Works on the EQ-3 mounting, but.... it's just a wee bit too ungainly.
That's why I settled on a Megrez 110ED f/5.95.
It's got enough aperture to do the job and is quite stubby for it's size. Not too heavy, either. Initially, it's only drawback was observable c.a. (mostly in the red) at higher magnifications. Switching to a star diagonal prism largely resolved that issue.
The 110ED has become a virtually ideal "grab 'n' go" scope for my purposes.
Hope you find the right instrument of your changing needs! 
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A few telescopes of dubious value.
Understanding wife and three curious cats.
"Semper ubi sub ubi"
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5312
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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For about $550 you can switch the entire focuser assembly on your AP130EDT to the new AP 2.7" greaseless, two speed Feather Touch focuser. I've done this on my AP155EDEFS and AP180EDT. The new AP two speed focuser are really outstanding. Switching focuser assemblies is very easy.
You could likely sell your old AP focuser if you felt like it. I'm not sure what they are going for.
While a sliding dew shield is nice, I much prefer the way AP attaches the focuser assembly to the tube vs. the way TEC does it.
Rich
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RAKing
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 822
Loc: Clouds-ville, Virginia
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Quote:
Ron,
I know how you feel. I also have chronic back problems and a recent hip replacement ... what a hoot! Looks like you have a C925 at least for some aperture. How do you like the GM8 on the AP pier?
There was another thread recently in the Refractors section where a bunch of us compared our physical ailments. I won't rehash my medical history except to say I've seen far too many operating rooms already. 
The GM-8 on the A-P Pier is a marriage made in heaven. It is just the ticket for those of us who like 4 and 5 inch refractors. 
Many of my observing sessions happen right after dinner on work nights. The GM-8 and TV-102 are easy to set up and operate. While I like the Mak and the SCT, I am a refractor guy at heart and prefer the sharper views and better contrast. I would love to try your 130EDT or TEC 140. Maybe someday.... 
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
Orion XT10i / Moonlite CR2 -- The New "Time Machine"
"Hi Def" TV-102
C925-CF SCT
Ethos and Naglers
GM-8 GEM / A-P Portable Pier
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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2559
Loc: New Hampshire
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Rich,
Now that's an idea. That may be the ticket. I'll look into that. In the meantime, I am considering a homemade alt-az. The Unistar is ok but for the EDT size scope it is a bit too wiggly for comfortable planetary viewing, IMO.
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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SkyscraperJim
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 401
Loc: Providence, RI
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Quote:
As I sit here with my AP130EDT f/8, I seem to have few times to use it due to weather and family. That plus I can't afford a good mount without selling off other stuff. Thus I ponder moving down the ladder .... a 4" apo again.
I actually have a TEC140 on order as well.
Anyway, some of the fire has left for me and maybe I don't need that much. Something for quick glimpses, yet quality views with little fuss.
I'm thinking a TV102. I went this way before and went back up to larger apos. Still, I rarely have time to use them. I used to be a serious viewer but, things change. Anyway, anyone do the same?
Rob
The reason that I didn't sell my Pronto, despite having the 5" Apo, was so that I still have a quick setup scope and one that is more travel friendly. For the same reason, you may want to consider holding on to your AP130, and compliment it with something smaller like a TV-76 (or TV-85). And the best thing you can do for a small refractor is put it on a Half Hitch.
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Jim
TMB/APM 130/780 (#185) on G11
Televue Pronto (#3533) on Half Hitch
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